Methods and systems of aggregating information of social networks based on geographical locations via a network

ABSTRACT

One or more systems, devices, methods, and/or processes described can apply searches and/or filters to data of social networks with respect to one or more geographical locations, geospatial references, location-based contexts, and/or map-based references. One or more social networks can be queried with search and/or filter parameters and one or more geographic locations, and results received from the social network(s) can be based on the search and/or filter parameter(s) and the geographic location(s) and presented to a user on a map or other user interface.

PRIORITY

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/677,158, filed 14 Nov. 2012, titled, “Methods and Systems ofAggregating Information of Social Networks Based on GeographicalLocations Via a Network,” which claims benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/607,971, filed 7 Mar. 2012, titled “An AutomatedWeb Based Software Platform for Aggregating Content from Social NetworkVia Geospatial Reference” and claims benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/705,516, filed on 25 Sep. 2012, titled “Methodsand Systems of Aggregating Information of Social Networks Based onGeographical Locations Via a Network.” The contents of each applicationis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully andcompletely set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to the field of social media dataanalytics. More specifically, this disclosure relates to the field ofanalyzing data of one or more social networks with references togeographical locations.

2. Description of the Related Art

Social networks receive data from their users and provide a socialstructure of sets of individuals, groups, and/or organizations withmultiple dyadic associations and/or ties between or among the sets ofindividuals, groups, and/or organizations. For example, a social networkcan receive data provided by a user and share the received data withother users affiliated with the user and/or affiliated with other usersaffiliated with one or more groups and/or organizations. In oneinstance, the data provided by the user may include a status (e.g., apersonal status), a picture, a motion picture (e.g., a video), a ratingof a venue, a review of a venue, or an action or activity of the user.In another instance, the data provided by the user may include a messagefor one or more other users affiliated with and/or related to the user.Massive amounts of useful data have been accumulated on social networksbut have not been strongly leveraged for use in security, marketing, orother applications. In particular, the related art has not usedgeospatial references, location-based context, or a map-based interfacein ascertaining the meanings and relevance of this useful data orassisting in drawing conclusions based on the geographical aspects ofthis data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will become apparent upon reading the following detaileddescription and upon reference to the accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 provides a block diagram of one or more communications systems,according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 2 provides a block diagram of a social media query system,according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 3 provides a method of selecting a geographic area, according toone or more embodiments;

FIGS. 4-8 illustrate search regions of a map, according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 9 provides an exemplary method of supporting a custom search regionshape, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates edges of a custom search region shape covered byshapes of search regions supported by a social media data source,according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 11 illustrates an interior of the custom search region shapecovered by shapes of search regions supported by a social media datasource;

FIG. 12 provides an exemplary block diagram of a computer system,according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 13 illustrates a mobile computer system, according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 14 provides an exemplary method of providing location-basedinformation to a computing device, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary diagram of computing devices atlocations which can be included in a region, according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary method of providing location-basedinformation to a computing device, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 17 provides an exemplary method of changing a position of a searchregion, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 18 provides an exemplary method of changing a size of a searchregion, according to one or more embodiments;

FIGS. 19-21 illustrates exemplary search regions at various positionsand/or of various sizes, according to one or more embodiments; and

FIG. 22 provides exemplary search results via a map, according to one ormore embodiments.

While one or more embodiments may be susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof areshown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described indetail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detaileddescription thereto are not intended to limit the disclosure to theparticular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is tocover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within thespirit and scope of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one or more embodiments, systems, methods, and/or processes describedherein can provide one or more interfaces that can search and/or filterdata of social networks (e.g., FACEBOOK social network media datasource, TWITTER social network media data source, YOUTUBE social networkmedia data source, WEIBO social network media data source, a blog, awiki, FOURSQUARE social network media data source, INSTAGRAM socialnetwork media data source, FLICKR social network media data source,VIMEO social network media data source, YELP social network media datasource, etc.) with respect to one or more of a geospatial references,location-based contexts, and/or map-based references. For example, userinput can be received that can move a searchable eye of variabledimension about a map interface to denote a search region, and dataassociated with one or more social networks can be searched and/orfiltered with respect to the denoted search region. For instance, one ormore social networks can be queried with one or more search and/orfilter parameters and one or more geographic locations associated withthe denoted search region, and one or more results can be received fromthe one or more social networks, where the results can be based on theone or more search and/or filter parameters and one or more geographiclocations associated with the denoted search region.

In one or more embodiments, subject-related groups can be defined and/orcategorized by one or more of discussion and affinity criteria, amongothers. For example, one or more of time/subject phases of dominance byindividuals, individual participant relationship to one or more groups,and individuals to their respective network of contacts, among others,can be mapped.

In one or more embodiments, queries can be saved with their geospatialreferences and their search and/or filter parameters. For example, oneor more saved queries can continue to run and/or execute over one ormore periods of time transpiring. In one or more embodiments, queriescan be saved with their geospatial references and their search and/orfilter parameters. For example, one or more saved queries can continueto run and/or execute over one or more periods of time transpiring. Inone or more embodiments, methods, processes, and/or systems can query asocial network with one or more search and/or filter parameters and oneor more geographic locations associated with a denoted search region.For example, the social network can be queried via an applicationprogramming interface (API). For instance, the social network canprovide the API. In one or more embodiments, the social network can bequeried via a network (e.g., a public network, a private network, etc.),and one or more results of the query can be received via the network. Inone example, the API can include a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)interface, and the social network can be queried via the HTTP interface.In a second example, the API can include a hypertext transfer protocolsecure (HTTPS) interface, and the social network can be queried via theHTTPS interface. In another example, the API can be utilized with one ormore secure communication methods, processes, and/or systems. Forinstance, the API can be utilized with and/or via one or more of avirtual private network, a secure tunnel, a secure socket layer (SSL),and a transport layer security (TLS) protocol, among others.

In one or more embodiments, the one or more results of the query of thesocial network can be provided to a user as the one or more resultsbecome available from the social network. For example, the one or moreresults can be provided to a user via a user interface (e.g., agraphical user interface) as the one or more results become availablefrom the social network.

In one or more embodiments, the one or more results of a query of thesocial network can be received over one or more periods of timetranspiring. For example, one or more queries can be provided to asocial media network data source (e.g., a data source that can storesocial media network data), the one or more queries can be saved (e.g.,stored) with their geospatial references and their search and/or filterparameters, an amount of time can transpire, the one or more queries canbe retrieved (e.g., retrieved from storage), the one or more queries canbe provided (again, in a repeated fashion, etc.) to the social medianetwork data source, and one or more search results can be received fromthe social media network data source. For instance, running and/orexecuting one or more saved queries can provide continual and/orperiodic reporting.

In one or more embodiments, one or more methods, processes, and/orsystems, described herein, can utilize one or more event-driven onesocial network media data source methods, processes, and/or systems. Inone example, one or more events can be generated (e.g., a data readyevent, a timer event, a timeout event, a periodic timer event, aprocessing system ready event, a data send event, etc.), and one or moreevent handlers can perform one or more methods and/or processes inresponse to the one or more events. In one instance, the one or moreevent handlers can receive and/or process data associated with the oneor more events. In a second instance, the one or more event handlers canprovide data in response to the one or more events. In another instance,the one or more event handlers can generate one or more additionalevents in response to the one or more events.

In one example, a data ready event can be generated when data has beenreceived from a social media network data source, and a data ready eventhandler can process the data received from the social media network datasource. In a second example, a timeout event can be generated, and atimeout event handler can retrieve (e.g., retrieve from storage) one ormore queries saved queries and can provide the one or more queries savedqueries to a social media network data source. In one instance, a timercan be set with an amount of time to transpire, and the timeout eventcan be generated in response to the amount of time transpiring. Inanother instance, a timer can be set with a time (e.g., 10:30, 16:45 on11 Dec. 2012, 23:02 on 26 July, etc.), and the timeout event can begenerated in response to the time occurring.

In another example, a periodic timeout event can be generated, and aperiodic timeout event handler can retrieve (e.g., retrieve fromstorage) one or more queries saved queries and can provide the one ormore queries saved queries to a social media network data source. In oneinstance, a periodic timer can be set with an amount of time totranspire, and the periodic timeout event can be generated in responseto the amount of time transpiring. In one or more embodiments, theperiodic timeout event can be generated, repeatedly, in response to eachrepetition of the amount of time transpiring. For, one or more methods,processes, and/or systems, described herein, can query a social mediadata source at a time interval.

In one or more embodiments, one or more methods, processes, and/orsystems, described herein, can query the social network in a continuousfashion. For example, the social network can be queried until one ormore results are received or until an amount of time has transpired. Forinstance, one or more methods, processes, and/or systems, describedherein, can query the social network in a background process and/or inan automated batch. For example, one or more saved queries can continueto run and/or execute over one or more periods of time transpiring. Forinstance, running and/or executing one or more saved queries can providecontinual and/or periodic reporting.

In one or more embodiments, methods, processes, and/or systems,described herein, can provide and/or implement one or more userinterfaces. For example, the one or more user interfaces can provide oneor more of social network query results, statistical analyses of datafrom the social network query results, one or more charts (e.g., a chartillustrating a number of results returned vs. each time the query wasperformed), a review of results determined and content that was saved,and/or some or all of the social network query results layered over amap, among others. In one or more embodiments, one or more of socialnetwork query results and statistical analyses of data from the socialnetwork query results, among others, can be utilized in training aneural network. For example, trainable data sets can be utilized forpattern initial guidance. For instance, one or more methods and/orprocesses can be trained from data sets and can automatically acquire anartificial intelligence to increase one or more of group, individual,and intent mapping aptitude over a period of time.

Turning now to FIG. 1, one or more network systems are illustrated,according to one or more embodiments. As shown, one or more social mediadata sources 1610-1640 can be coupled to a network 1010. In one or moreembodiments, a social media data source (which can also be referred toas a social network media data source) can include a social mediaservice and/or one or more computer systems that are operated and/orcontrolled by the social media service. For example, the social mediaservice can provide and/or include one or more web-based interfaces(e.g., one or more websites and/or one or more network-based applicationprogramming interfaces) and/or mobile-based technologies and/or servicesthat can facilitate and/or implement communications and/or interactivedialogues among related individuals, organizations, and/or communities,among others. For instance, the social media service can provide and/orimplement Internet-based applications (e.g., websites, network-basedprogramming interfaces, etc.) that can facilitate and/or provide acreation and/or an exchange of user input (e.g., user-generated data,user-provided content, etc.). In one example, social media data sources1610-1640 can include FACEBOOK social network media data source, TWITTERsocial network media data source, YOUTUBE social network media datasource, and WEIBO social network media data source. In another example,the social media data sources can include MYSPACE social network mediadata source, FRIENDSTER social network media data source, a blog, awiki, FOURSQUARE social network media data source, INSTAGRAM socialnetwork media data source, FLICKR social network media data source,VIMEO social network media data source, and YELP social network mediadata source, among others.

In one or more embodiments, one or more of social media data sources1610-1640 can provide application programming interfaces that providefunctionalities that can receive one or more queries and can providesocial media data corresponding to and/or associated with the one ormore queries. For example, social media data source 1610 can receive aquery associated with one or more of a word, a phrase, a user profile, aportion of a user profile, a regular expression, a natural languagefilter, a grammar (e.g., a set of formation rules for strings in alanguage, a context-free grammar, a regular grammar, a tree-adjoininggrammar, an affix grammar, an attribute grammar, an adaptive grammar, anambiguous grammar, a categorical grammar, etc.), a social group, anorganization, a user identification, and/or a location, among others,and can provide social media data that is associated with and/orcorresponds to at least one of the word, the phrase, the grammar, theregular expression, the user profile, the portion of the user profile,the social group, the organization, the user identification, and thelocation. For instance, social media data source 1610 can receive aquery associated with one or more locations and provide thelocation-based social media data matching that query via network 1010.In one or more embodiments, a user profile can include one or more of auser name, a user identification, a mobile telephone number, an emailaddress, a physical address, an occupation, a gender, a marital status,a past purchase, an interest, a past transaction, a shoe size, an age,one or more clothing sizes, a political affiliation, a monthly include,a yearly income, an employment status, a credit history, a creditrating, an eye color, a hair color, a music genre, and a membership,among others.

As illustrated, computing devices (CDs) 1110-1112 and an access point(AP) 1410 can be at and/or associated with a location 1210, and CDs1110-1112 can be coupled to AP 1410 that can be coupled to network 1010.In one or more embodiments, AP 1410 can communicate with one or morecomputing devices in one or more of a wired fashion and a wirelessfashion. In one example, AP 1410 can communicate with one or more of CDs1110-1112 in a wired fashion. For instance, AP 1410 can communicate withCDs 1110-1112 via one or more of wired Ethernet, fiber optics, wireduniversal serial bus (USB), digital subscriber loop (DSL), and coaxialcable (e.g., cable TV), among others.

In another example, AP 1410 can communicate with one or more of CDs1110-1112 in a wireless fashion. For instance, AP 1410 can communicatewith CDs 1110-1112 via one or more of wireless Ethernet (e.g., WiFi),Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, IEEE802.16, WiMAX, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.15, ZigBee, Z-Wave, ultra wideband,IEEE 802.15.4, and wireless USB, among others. In one or moreembodiments, an AP can include a transceiver to communicate withcomputing devices utilizing one or more wireless methods, processes,wireless spectrums (e.g., frequency ranges), protocols, and/or systems.For example, an AP can communicate with computing devices utilizing ISM(industrial, scientific and medical) bands. For instance, an ISM bandcan include a frequency range of 6.765-6.795 Mhz, 433.05-434.79 Mhz,902-928 Mhz, 2.4-2.5 Ghz, 5.725-5.875 Ghz, or 24.0-24.25 Ghz, amongothers.

As shown, CDs 1113 and 1114 can be at and/or associated with a location1215, CDs 1113 and 1114 can be coupled to an AP 1420 that can be coupledto network 1010. In one or more embodiments, AP 1420 can include one ormore structures and/or functionalities described with reference to AP1410. For example, AP 1420 can communicate with one or more computingdevices in one or more of a wired fashion and a wireless fashion. Asillustrated, AP 1420 may not be at and/or associated with a location1215, according to one or more embodiments.

As shown, CDs 1115 and 1116 can be at and/or associated with a location1220, and CDs 1115 and 1116 can be coupled to a wireless telephonenetwork node (WTNN) 1510 that can be coupled to network 1010. In oneexample, WTNN 1510 can include one or more of a base station subsystem(BSS), a base station controller (BSC), and a base transceiver station(BTS) that can be coupled to network 1010. In a second example, WTNN1510 can include one or more of a radio network controller (RNC) and aNode B. For instance, a Node B can include and/or denote a BTS of auniversal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) and can include one ormore transmitters, one or more receivers, one or more transceivers,and/or one or more antennas. In another example, a WTNN can include asatellite that can orbit a planet (e.g., Earth) and can be wirelesslycoupled to network 1010. For instance, the WTNN can orbit the planet ina low planetary orbit (e.g., a low Earth orbit), a medium planetaryorbit (e.g., a medium Earth orbit), a geostationary orbit, a highplanetary orbit (e.g., a high Earth orbit), a semi-synchronous orbit, ora geosynchronous orbit, among others.

In one or more embodiments, a WTNN can communicate with one or morecomputing devices via one or more protocols such as one or more ofwideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), time divisionsynchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA), code divisionmultiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), GSM(global system for mobile communications), long term evolution (LTE),general packet radio service (GPRS), enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), frequencydivision multiple access (FDMA), and enhanced data rates for GSMevolution (EDGE), among others. In one or more embodiments, a WTNN caninclude one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, one or moretransceivers, one or more antennas, and/or one or more cryptographydevices that can be used to wirelessly communicate with one or morecomputing devices. In one example, the one or more antennas of the WTNNcan be mounted on a mast, on a tower (e.g., a cellular telephonecommunications tower), on a side of a structure (e.g., a building, aparking garage, a lamp post, etc.), and/or on a roof of a building,among others.

As illustrated, CD 1117-1119 and a WTNN 1520 can be at and/or associatedwith a location 1225, and CDs 1117-1119 can be coupled to WTNN 1520 thatcan be coupled to network 1010. In one or more embodiments, WTNN 1520can include one or more structures and/or functionalities described withreference to WTNN 1510. As shown, CDs 1120-1122 can be at and/orassociated with respective locations 1230-1240, and CDs 1120-1122 can becoupled to a WTNN 1530 that can be coupled to network 1010. In one ormore embodiments, WTNN 1530 can include one or more structures and/orfunctionalities described with reference to WTNN 1510. As shown, WTNN1530 may not be at and/or associated with one or more of locations1230-1240, according to one or more embodiments.

As illustrated, CD 1123-1125 can be at and/or associated with a location1245, and CDs 1123-1125 can be coupled to WTNN 1540 that can be coupledto network 1010. In one or more embodiments, WTNN 1540 can include oneor more structures and/or functionalities described with reference toWTNN 1510. As shown, WTNN 1540 may not be at and/or associated withlocation 1245, according to one or more embodiments. As illustrated, acomputing device (CD) 1126 can be at and/or associated with a location1250, and CD 1126 can be coupled to a WTNN 1550 that can be coupled tonetwork 1010. In one or more embodiments, WTNN 1550 can include one ormore structures and/or functionalities described with reference to WTNN1510. As shown, WTNN 1550 may not be at and/or associated with location1250, according to one or more embodiments. As illustrated, one or moreCDs 1130-1132 can be coupled to network 1010.

In one or more embodiments, network 1010 and/or network 1014 can includea wired network, a wireless network or a combination of wired andwireless networks. Network 1010 and/or network 1014 can include and/orbe coupled to various types of communications networks, such as a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), an Internet, a wide area network(WAN) (e.g., a private WAN, a corporate WAN, a public WAN, etc.), alocal area network (LAN), etc. In one or more embodiments, NMD 1020 canbe coupled to a PSTN, e.g., Ethernet cable and DSL; a cable (television)based network; a satellite-based system; and/or a fiber based network;among others. In one or more embodiments, network 1010 can include oneor more wireless networks, e.g., based on IEEE 802.11 and/or IEEE802.16.

In one or more embodiments, network 1010 can be or include acommunications network. In one example, network 1010 can be or includemultiple networks and/or can be coupled to one or more other networks.For instance, network 1010 can be, include, or form part of a WAN. Forinstance, the WAN can include one or more of a private WAN, a corporateWAN, and a public WAN (e.g., an Internet), among others. In anotherexample, network 1010 can be or include a telephone network. In oneinstance, network 1010 can be or include a PSTN. In a second instance,network 1010 can be or include a wired telephone network. In anotherinstance, network 1010 can be or include a wireless telephone network(e.g., a cellular telephone network, a satellite telephone network,etc.).

In one or more embodiments, network 1010 can include and/or be coupledto various types of communications networks. For example, network 1010can include and/or be coupled to a PSTN, an Internet, a WAN (e.g., aprivate WAN, a corporate WAN, a public WAN, etc.), and/or a LAN, amongothers. In one or more embodiments, network 1010 can include a wirednetwork, a wireless network or a combination of wired and wirelessnetworks. In one example, network 1010 can include and/or be coupled tocoupled to a wired PSTN, a DSL network, a cable (television) basednetwork, a satellite-based system and/or network, and/or a fiber basednetwork; among others. In another example, network 1010 can includeand/or be coupled to one or more wireless networks, e.g., based on IEEE802.11, based on IEEE 802.16, based on a wireless PSTN, based on awireless telecommunications network, etc.

In one or more embodiments, a network system can be or include acommunication system. For example, a network system can be operated by anetwork provider. For instance, a first network system can be operatedby a first network provider (e.g., AT&T, T-MOBILE, IRIDIUMCOMMUNICATIONS, VERIZON WIRELESS, GLOBALSTAR, etc.), and a secondnetwork system can be operated by a second network provider (e.g.,TIME-WARNER CABLE, WAYPORT, BOINGO, QWEST, CLEAR, GRANDECOMMUNIUCATIONS, COX, EARTHLINK, etc.).

In one or more embodiments, one or more of CDs 1110-1126 can be orinclude any of various types of devices, including a computer system,such as a desktop computer system, a portable computer, a laptopcomputer system, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, awireless telephone (e.g., a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone,etc.), a digital music player, a tablet computing device, a wearablecomputing device, a communications device, or other wired or wirelessdevice. In one example, a first user can utilize CD 1110 at location1210. For instance, CD 1110 can be or include a laptop computing device.In a second example, a second user can utilize CD 1111 at location 1210.For instance, CD 1111 can be or include a tablet computing device. In athird example, a third user can utilize CD 1113 at location 1215. Forinstance, CD 1113 can be or include a personal digital assistant. Inanother example, a fourth user can utilize CD 1115 at location 1220. Forinstance, CD 1115 can be or include a wireless telephone.

In one or more embodiments, respective users of CDs 1110, 1111, 1113,and 1115, at and/or associated with respective locations, can providedata to one or more social media services, where the user-provided datacan be associated with and/or correspond to the respective locations. Inone example, the first user can utilize CD 1110 to update a status(e.g., a personal status) on a first social media service (e.g.,associated with social media data source 1610) such that the updatedstatus corresponds to a location of CD 1110. For instance, the updatedstatus and information associated with location 1210 can be stored byfirst social media service such that the updated status is associatedwith location data such that the updated status corresponds to location1210. In a second example, the second user can utilize CD 1111 to uploada picture and/or a motion picture (e.g., a video) to a second socialmedia service (e.g., associated with social media data source 1620). Forinstance, the picture and/or the motion picture and informationassociated with location 1210 can be stored by second social mediaservice such that the picture and/or the motion picture corresponds tolocation 1210. In a third example, the third user can utilize CD 1113 torate and/or review a venue (e.g., a restaurant, a coffee shop, a movietheatre, a car wash, etc.) on a third social media service (e.g.,associated with social media data source 1630). For instance, the ratingand/or the review and information associated with location 1215 can bestored by third social media service such that the rating and/or thereview correspond to location 1215.

In another example, the fourth user can utilize CD 1115 to update anaction and/or activity on a fourth social media service (e.g.,associated with social media data source 1640). In one instance, theaction and/or the activity and information associated with location 1220can be stored by the fourth social media service such that the actionand/or the activity corresponds to location 1220. In another instance,the action and/or the activity can be related to the fourth user (e.g.,entering a football stadium) or can be related to actions and/oractivities of others in the vicinity of location 1220 (e.g., gunshot(s)fired, car crash, a parade, etc.). In yet another instance, the actionand/or the activity can be related to the environment in the vicinity oflocation 1220 (e.g., building fire, brush fire, gas leak, explosion,lightening storm, earthquake, etc.).

In one or more embodiments, a location (e.g., a location of locations1210-1250), associated with and/or corresponding to a computing device,can be determined. For example, a location, described herein, can be orinclude a geographical location. For instance, a location (e.g., alocation of locations 1210-1250) can include one or more of a streetnumber, a street, a zip code, a city, a state, a country, a unitidentifier (e.g., a suite identifier, a condominium identifier, ahospital room identifier, an apartment identifier, a gate identifier ofan airport, an airport identifier, etc.), a cell identification (cell IDor CID associated with a cellular telephone network), latitudeinformation, longitude information, and altitude information, amongothers. In one or more embodiments, a location can be, include, or beassociated with one or more of a voting district, a congressionaldistrict, a school district, a school, a campus, a dormitory, an oilpipeline, a sports complex, a police precinct, a piece of real estate, aneighborhood, a borrow, a city, a town, a commercial office building, afloor of a building, a factory, a refinery, a storage facility, a powerstation, a power substation, and a military installation, among others.

In one or more embodiments, a location (e.g., a location of locations1210-1250) can be determined based on a location of an AP communicatingwith a computing device. For example, one or more of CDs 1110-1112 cancommunicate with AP 1410, which is associated with and/or correspondingto location 1210, and can be determined to be at and/or associated withlocation 1210. In one or more embodiments, a location (e.g., a locationof locations 1210-1250) can be determined based on a location of a WTNNcommunicating with a computing device. For example, one or more of CDs1117-1119 can communicate with WTNN 1520, which is associated withand/or corresponding to location 1225, and can be determined to be atand/or associated with location 1225.

In one or more embodiments, a location (e.g., a location of locations1210-1250) can be determined based on locations of multiple wirelesstelephone network nodes (WTNNs) communicating or being capable ofcommunicating with a computing device. For example, CD 1122 cancommunicate or can be capable of communicating with two or more of WTNNs1530-1550, and a location of CD 1122 (e.g., location 1240) can bedetermined based on two or more of WTNNs 1530-1550 and their locations.In one instance, a location of a computing device can be determined viamultilateration which is a navigation technique that utilizesmeasurements of differences in distances to two or more WTNNs, atpreviously determined or known locations, that broadcast one or moresignals at previously determined or known times. In a second instance, alocation of a computing device can be determined via trilateration whichis a navigation technique that utilizes distances or absolutemeasurements of time-of-flight from three or more WTNNs. In another, alocation of a computing device can be determined via triangulation whichis a navigation technique that utilizes measurements of absolute angles.In one or more embodiments, a computing device and/or a network operatorcan utilized multiple WTNNs in determining a location of the computingdevice.

In one or more embodiments, a location of a computing device isdetermined utilizing data from a positioning device and/or mechanism.For example, the computing device can include a global positioningsystem (GPS) device and/or mechanism, and the computing device cancommunicate its location information, from the GPS device and/ormechanism, to a social media data source. In one or more embodiments, alocation of a computing device can be determined utilizing a networkaddress utilized by the computing device. For example, the networkaddress can include an Internet protocol (IP) address or other addressutilized by the computing device and/or an IP address or other addressof a gateway associated with the computing device. In one instance, adatabase can include multiple IP addresses that correspond to multiplelocations, and the database can be queried with an IP address and canprovide a location based on the IP address. In another instance, thenetwork address can be or include a network address of a communicationsystem.

In one or more embodiments, a computing device that is communicatingwith a social network can provide a location of the computing device tothe social network. In one example, the computing device can providelatitude and longitude information, from a GPS device and/or mechanism,to the social network. In another example, the computing device canprovide one or more of street number information, street information,zip code information, city information, state information, and countryinformation, among others, to the social network.

In one or more embodiments, user-provided data (e.g., user-providedcontent, user input, user-provided pictures, user-provided motionpictures, user-provided videos, communications and/or interactivedialogues among related individuals, organizations, and/or communities,user status updates, posts to one or more social network services, oneor more blog entries, etc.) can be correlated and/or associated with alocation of a computing device, utilized by a user, that provides theuser-provided data to a social media service via a network. In oneexample, first user input can be correlated and/or associated with afirst location of a first computing device, utilized by a first user,that provides the first user input to a first social media service vianetwork 1010. For instance, the first user input can be correlatedand/or associated with location 1210 of CD 1110, utilized by the firstuser, that provides the first user input to a first social media servicevia network 1010.

In a second example, second user input can be correlated and/orassociated with a second location of a second computing device, utilizedby a second user, that provides the second user input to a second socialmedia service via network 1010. For instance, the second user input canbe correlated and/or associated with location 1215 of CD 1113, utilizedby the second user, that provides the second user input to a secondsocial media service via network 1010. In a third example, third userinput can be correlated and/or associated with a third location of athird computing device, utilized by a third user, that provides thethird user input to a third social media service via network 1010. Forinstance, the third user input can be correlated and/or associated withlocation 1245 of CD 1123, utilized by the third user, that provides thethird user input to a third social media service via network 1010.

In a fourth example, fourth user input can be correlated and/orassociated with the first location of a fourth computing device,utilized by a fourth user, that provides the fourth user input to afourth social media service via network 1010. For instance, the fourthuser input can be correlated and/or associated with location 1210 of CD1111, utilized by the fourth user, that provides the fourth user inputto a fourth social media service via network 1010. In a fifth example,fifth user input can be correlated and/or associated with a fifthlocation of a fifth computing device, utilized by a fifth user, thatprovides the fifth user input to the first social media service vianetwork 1010. For instance, the fifth user input can be correlatedand/or associated with location 1240 of CD 1122, utilized by the fifthuser, that provides the fifth user input to a fifth social media servicevia network 1010. In a sixth example, sixth user input can be correlatedand/or associated with the second location of a sixth computing device,utilized by a sixth user, that provides the sixth user input to thesecond social media service via network 1010. For instance, the sixthuser input can be correlated and/or associated with location 1215 of CD1114, utilized by the sixth user, that provides the sixth user input toa sixth social media service via network 1010.

In one or more embodiments, user input correlated and/or associated witha location of a computing device can be provided to a social mediaservice via one or more of a web interface, a post (e.g., a HTTP POST),a get (e.g., a HTTP GET), a smart phone application, a tabletapplication, a digital music player application, a personal digitalassistant application, an application for a personal computer (e.g., adesktop computer, a notebook computer, etc.), and an application for avirtual machine, among others.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a social media query system is illustrated,according to one or more embodiments. As shown, one or more of CDs1130-1132 and/or one or more of social media data sources 1610-1640 canbe coupled to network 1010. In one or more embodiments, one or more ofCDs 1130-1132 can be or include one or more clients of the social mediaquery system. For example, one or more of CDs 1130-1132 can provide oneor more queries to one or more API servers 2020-2024 via network 1010and via a load balancer 2010. For instance, load balancer 2010 candistribute queries between or among two or more API servers inaccordance with one or more load balancing methods and/or processes.

As illustrated, API servers 2020-2024 can be coupled to network 1010. Inone or more embodiments, one or more API servers 2020-2024 can query oneor more social media data sources 1610-1640. For example, one or moreAPI servers 2020-2024 can receive one or more live queries from one ormore of CDs 1130-1132 and can query one or more social media datasources 1610-1640, via network 1010, to provide one or more responses tothe live queries. For instance, a live query can include a query fordata that has not been archived.

In one or more embodiments, one or more API servers 2020-2024 canutilize one or more network monitors and/or packet analyzers (not shown)to monitor network traffic on network 1010 and capture network packetsen route to one or more social media data sources 1610-1640 includinginformation related to a query. For example, one or more API servers2020-2024 can receive one or more queries from one or more of CDs1130-1132 and intercept network packets destined for one or more socialmedia data sources 1610-1640 via network 1010 to provide one or moreresponses to the queries based on content of the captured networkpackets.

In one or more embodiments, data provided to the social media servicescan be associated with and/or correspond to respective locations ofcomputing devices that provided the data, and API servers 2020-2024 canquery the one or more social media services to determine informationassociated with and/or corresponding to the data provided to the socialmedia services and respective locations of the computing devices thatprovided the data. In one example, API server 2020 can provide, tosocial media data source 1610, a first query associated with one or moreof a first word, first words, a first phrase, a first user profile, aportion of the first user profile, a first grammar, a first regularexpression, a first social group, a first organization, a first useridentification, and a first location, among others, and receive socialmedia data that is associated with and/or corresponds to at least one ofthe first word, the first words, the first phrase, the first userprofile, the portion of the first user profile, the first grammar, thefirst regular expression, the first social group, the firstorganization, the first user identification, and the first location. Forinstance, API server 2020 can provide the first query to social mediadata source 1610 via network 1010 and can receive the first social mediadata from social media data source 1610 via network 1010.

In a second example, API server 2022 can provide, to social media datasource 1620, a second query associated with one or more of a secondword, second words, a second phrase, a second user profile, a portion ofthe second user profile, a second grammar, a second regular expression,a second social group, a second organization, a second useridentification, and a second location, among others, and receive secondsocial media data that is associated with and/or corresponds to at leastone of the second word, the second words, the second phrase, the seconduser profile, the portion of the second user profile, the secondgrammar, the second regular expression, the second social group, thesecond organization, the second user identification, and the secondlocation. For instance, API server 2022 can provide the second query tosocial media data source 1620 via network 1010 and can receive thesecond social media data from social media data source 1620 via network1010.

In another example, API server 2024 can provide, to social media datasource 1630, a third query associated with one or more of a third word,third words, a third phrase, a third user profile, a third portion ofthe third user profile, a third grammar, a third regular expression, athird social group, a third organization, a third user identification,and a third location, among others, and receive third social media datathat is associated with and/or corresponds to at least one of the thirdword, the third words, the third phrase, the third user profile, theportion of the third user profile, the third grammar, the third regularexpression, the third social group, the third organization, the thirduser identification, and the third location. For instance, API server2024 can provide the third query to social media data source 1630 vianetwork 1010 and can receive the third social media data from socialmedia data source 1630 via network 1010.

In one or more embodiments, social media data from a social media datasource can be stored in a database (DB). For example, one or more of thefirst social media data from social media data source 1610, the secondsocial media data from social media data source 1620, and the thirdsocial media data from social media data source 1630 can be stored in atransactional DB 2030. In one or more embodiments, transactional DB 2030can provide social media data from a social media data source to one ormore of a read only DB 2032 and an archive DB 2034. In one example, readonly DB 2032 can be utilized for queries associated with and/orcorresponding to data that has been received from a social media datasource. For instance, read only DB 2032 can be utilized to off-loadqueries from transaction DB 2030. In a second example, archive DB 2034can be utilized for long-term storage of queries associated with and/orcorresponding to data that has been received from a social media datasource. In another example, archive DB 2034 can be utilized for queriesover a period of time.

In one or more embodiments, one or more of transactional DB 2030, readonly DB 2032, and archive DB 2034 can include and/or be implemented viamultiple computing devices and/or multiple databases. In one example,transactional DB 2030 can include at least one computer system for eachAPI server coupled to transactional DB 2030. In another example, one ormore of read only DB 2032 and archive DB 2034 can include multiplecomputing devices to process data in a parallel fashion. For instance, aDB can divide a data processing problem (e.g., a query), distributeportions of the data and/or portions the problem to multiple computingdevices, and combine results from the multiple computing devices thatwere provided the portions of the data and/or the portions the problem.

In one or more embodiments, a database can include a relational databasemanagement system (RDBMS) that can be accessed by one or more computersystems. For example, the RDBMS can include an Oracle database, aMicrosoft SQL Server database, a MySQL database, a PostgreSQL database,etc. In one or more embodiments, a database can include an objectoriented database. For example, the object oriented database can includean Informix database, an Objectivity/DB database, a FastObjectsdatabase, a JADE database, a VelocityDB database, an ObjectDB database,etc. In one or more embodiments, a database can include a combination ofa RDBMS and an object oriented database system.

As illustrated, transactional DB 2030 can be coupled to one or more ofAPI servers 2020-2024, read only DB 2032, archive DB 2034, andapplication servers 2040-250. In one or more embodiments, one or more ofapplications servers 2040-2050 can process and/or issue one or morequeries to one or more social media data sources. For example,applications servers 2040-2050 can process and/or issue one or morequeries to social media data sources over a period of time. In one ormore embodiments, one or more of applications servers 2040-2050 canreceive, process, analyze and/or present one or more results of one ormore queries to one or more social media data sources.

As shown, a storage 2410 can be coupled to network 2410. In one or moreembodiments, one or more of API servers 2020-2024, databases 2030-2034,and application servers 2040-2050 can utilize storage 2420 via network1010. As illustrated, storages 2420, 2430, and 2450 can be coupled toone or more transaction DB 2030, archive DB 2430, and read only DB 2032,respectively. In one or more embodiments, one or more of storages 2420,2430, and 2450 can be coupled to a respective database via one or moreof SATA (serial AT attachment), SAS (serial attached SCSI), and FCoE(fiber channel over Ethernet). For example, storage 2420 can be coupledto database 2030 via Ethernet. For instance, FCoE can map storage 2420to database 2030 independent of an Ethernet forwarding scheme. In one ormore embodiments, one or more of storages 2410-2450 can be, be includedin, or include at least one of a network attached storage (NAS) and astorage area network (SAN), among others.

As illustrated, a storage 2440 can be coupled to one or more ofapplications servers 2044 and 2046. In one or more embodiments, one ormore of storage 2440 can be coupled to one or more of applicationservers 2440 via one or more of SATA, SAS, and FCoE. For example,storage 2420 can be coupled to database 2030 via Ethernet.

In one or more embodiments, one or more of storages 2410-2450 caninclude one or more storage devices that can be utilized to storedatabase data (e.g., tables, database schemes, etc.) and/or one or morequeries of one or more social media data sources. For example, one ormore of storages 2410-2450 can store one or more queries generated viaone or more methods, processes and/or systems described herein. In oneor more embodiments, one or more stored queries can be retrieved fromone or more of storages 2410-2450.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a method of selecting a geographic area isillustrated, according to one or more embodiments. At 3010, inputindicating a location can be received. For example, an API server of APIservers 2020-2024 can receive input indicating the location from aclient (e.g., one of CDs 1130-1132) via network 1010. For instance, thelocation can include one or more of a coordinate (e.g., latitude,longitude, etc.), a city, a state, a zip code, and a country, amongothers. In one or more embodiments, the input can include at least oneof user input and machine input (e.g., from a database system), amongothers. At 3020, a map can be provided. For example, an API server ofAPI servers 2020-2024 can provide a map to the client. For instance, themap can include the location received at 3010.

In one or more embodiments, the map can include the location, receivedat 3010, and one or more surrounding regions. For example, a map 4010can include the location of Austin, Tex. and one or more surroundingregions as illustrated in FIG. 4. For instance, the client can displaymap 4010, via a display device and/or a graphical user interface (GUI),to a user. At 3030, input indicating a search region can be received.For example, an API server of API servers 2020-2024 can receive inputindicating the search region from the client via network 1010. Forinstance, the user can select a search region 4110 of map 4010, andinput indicating search region 4110 can be received from the client vianetwork 1010. In one or more embodiments, the input indicating thesearch region received at 3030 can be associated with the locationreceived via the input at 3010. As illustrated, search region 4110 caninclude location 1210.

At 3040, it can be determined if there is another search region. Ifthere is another search region, the method can proceed to 3030. In oneor more embodiments, a user of the client can utilized a GUI inselecting one or more search regions. In one instance, the client canreceive user input via a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, a track pad, atrack ball, a stylus, a finger, etc.), and data associated with and/orcorresponding to the one or more selected search regions. In anotherinstance, selected one or more search regions can be displayed, to auser, via a display device and/or a GUI.

In one example, another search region can be selected. For instance, asearch region 5110, as shown in FIG. 5, can be selected in addition tosearch region 4110, and input indicating search region 5110 can bereceived from the client via network 1010. As illustrated, search region5110 can include location 1215. In a second example, another searchregion can be selected. For instance, a search region 6110, as shown inFIG. 6, can be selected in addition to search region 4110, and inputindicating search region 6110 can be received from the client vianetwork 1010. As illustrated in FIG. 6, one search region can overlapwith another search region. In another example, multiple search regionscan be selected. For instance, search regions 4110, 5110, and 6110 canbe selected as shown in FIG. 7, and input indicating search regions4110, 5110, and 6110 can be received from the client via network 1010.

In one or more embodiments, a search region can include one or moreshapes and/or boundaries. For example, a search region can include apolygon. In one instance, a search region can include a triangularsearch region, such as a search region 8110 of FIG. 8. As illustratedsearch region 8110 can include location 1250. In a second instance, asearch region can include a rectangular search region, such as a searchregion 8120 of FIG. 8. In a third instance, a search region can includea square search region, such as a search region 8130 of FIG. 8. In afourth instance, a search region can include custom search region (e.g.,a n-sided polygon), such as a search region 8140 of FIG. 8. Asillustrated, search region 8140 can include locations 1225, 1230, and1240.

In another instance, a search region can include a custom search region(e.g., one or more straight edges with one or more arcs, ellipticalarcs, parabolic arcs, splines, etc.), such as a search region 8150 ofFIG. 8. As illustrated search region 8150 can include location 1245. Inone or more embodiments, a custom search region can be utilized inimplementing a search region of one or more of a voting district, acongressional district, a school district, a school, a campus, adormitory, a police precinct, a piece of real estate, a neighborhood, aborrow, a city, a town, a commercial office building, a factory, arefinery, a storage facility, a power station, a power substation, and amilitary installation, among others.

In one or more embodiments, a custom search region can be described,transmitted, and/or stored via a markup language and/or a datadescription language. In one example, a custom search region can bedescribed, transmitted, and/or stored via an extensible markup language(XML). In a second example, a custom search region can be described,transmitted, and/or stored via a keyhole markup language (KML). Inanother example, a custom search region can be described, transmitted,and/or stored via a language that can represent data structures (e.g.,objects, arrays, associative arrays, etc.). For instance, the languagethat can represent data structures can be or include JSON (JavaScriptObject Notation). In one or more embodiments, JSON can be utilized byany language that can support and/or utilize a JSON lexer and/or parser.

If there is not another search region, the method can proceed to 3050,as shown in FIG. 3, where input indicating a data search can bereceived. For example, the input indicating a data search can includeone or more of a word, words, a phrase, a user profile, a portion of auser profile, a regular expression, a natural language filter, agrammar, a social group, an organization, and a user identification,among others. For instance, the input indicating a data search can bereceived from the client via network 1010. In one or more embodiments,the input indicating a data search can be or include search data. Forexample, the search data can include one or more of a word, words, aphrase, a user profile, a portion of a user profile, a regularexpression, a natural language filter, a grammar, a social group, anorganization, and a user identification, among others.

At 3055, it can be determined if there is additional search data. Ifthere is additional search data, the method can proceed to 3050. Ifthere is not additional search data, the method can proceed to 3060,where one or more queries can be generated. In one example, generatingthe one or more queries can include multiple supported geographicalsearch region shapes. For instance, a search region can include one ormore shapes that are not supported by one or more social media datasources, and the multiple supported geographical search region shapescan include the one or more shapes that are not supported by one or moresocial network media data sources. In a second example, the one or morequeries can be based on one or more of the search region, the user inputindicating a data search (e.g., search data), and one or more socialnetwork media data sources that store user-provided data (e.g., userinput, user-provided content, social network user-provided data, socialnetwork user-provided content) from multiple users provided via multipleuser computing devices at multiple locations (e.g., two or more of CDs1110-1126 at respective locations 1210-1250), among others.

In another example, generating the one or more queries can includeconfiguring and/or implementing the one or more queries with one or morea word, multiple words, a phrase, a user profile, a portion of a userprofile, a regular expression, a natural language filter, a grammar, asocial group, an organization, and a user identification, among others.In one instance, the one or more of the word, the multiple words, thephrase, the user profile, the portion of the user profile, the regularexpression, the natural language filter, the grammar, the social group,the organization, and the user identification, among others, can matchat least a portion of the user-provided data (e.g., user input,user-provided content, social network user-provided data, social networkuser-provided content) from multiple users provided via multiple usercomputing devices at multiple locations and/or can produce one or moresearch results. In another instance, one or more search results can beproduced, generated, and/or precipitated via a satisfaction and/or astatistical satisfaction of one or more criteria that can include and/orcan be based on the one or more of the word, the multiple words, thephrase, the user profile, the portion of the user profile, the regularexpression, the natural language filter, the grammar, the social group,the organization, and the user identification, among others.

At 3070, the one or more queries can be provided to one or more socialmedia data source. In one example, one or more of API servers 2020-2024can provide the one or more queries to one or more social media datasource, via network 1010. For instance, one or more of API servers2020-2024 can query one or more social media data sources 1610-1640based on the search data and the one or more search regions. In anotherexample, one or more of application servers 2040-2050 can provide theone or more queries to one or more social media data sources, vianetwork 1010. For instance, one or more of application servers 2040-2050can query one or more social media data sources 1610-1640 based on thesearch data and the one or more search regions.

At 3080, one or more results of the query of the one or more socialmedia data sources can be received. In one example, one or more of APIservers 2020-2024 can receive one or more results of the query of one ormore social media data sources 1610-1640 via network 1010. In anotherexample, one or more of application servers 2040-2050 can receive one ormore results of the query of one or more social media data sources1610-1640 via network 1010. At 3090, the one or more results of thequery of the one or more social media data sources can be stored. Forexample, a database can store the results of the query of the socialmedia data sources. For instance, one or more of databases 2030-2034 canstore the results of the query of social media data sources 1610-1640.

At 3100, the one or more results of the query of the one or more socialmedia data sources can be provided to the client. In one example, one ormore of API servers 2020-2024 can provide the results of the query ofsocial media data sources 1610-1640 to the client via network 1010. Inanother example, one or more of application servers 2040-050 can providethe results of the query of social media data sources 1610-1640 to theclient via network 1010.

In one or more embodiments, one or more locations (e.g., one or morelocations where user data was provided by one or more users via one ormore of their computing devices) can correspond to the one or moreresults of the one or more queries. In one example, location 1210 (asshown in FIG. 4), e.g., a location where user data was provided by oneor more users via one or more of their computing devices, can correspondto the one or more results of the one or more queries, and the clientcan display location 1210 to a user, via a display device and/or a GUI.In a second example, locations 1210 and 1215 (as shown in FIG. 5), e.g.,one or more locations where user data was provided by one or more usersvia one or more of their computing devices, can correspond to the one ormore results of the one or more queries, and the client can displaylocations 1210 and 1215 to a user, via a display device and/or a GUI.

In a third example, location 1210 (as shown in FIG. 6) e.g., a locationwhere user data was provided by one or more users via one or more oftheir computing devices, can correspond to the one or more results ofthe one or more queries, and the client can display location 1210 to auser, via a display device and/or a GUI. For instance, the one or morequeries can include multiple search regions 4110 and 6110. In a fourthexample, one or more of locations 1210 and 1215 (as shown in FIG. 7),e.g., one or more locations where user data was provided by one or moreusers via one or more of their computing devices, can correspond to theone or more results of the one or more queries, and the client candisplay to a user, via a display device and/or a GUI. For instance, theone or more queries can include one or more of search regions 4110,5110, and 6110.

In a fifth example, one or more of locations 1225, 1230, 1240, 1245, and1250 (as shown in FIG. 8), e.g., one or more locations where user datawas provided by one or more users via one or more of their computingdevices, can correspond to the one or more results of the one or morequeries, and the client can display to a user, via a display deviceand/or a GUI. For instance, the one or more queries can include one ormore of search regions 8110, 8120, 8130, and 8140. In another example,one or more of locations 22210-22232 (as shown in FIG. 22), e.g., one ormore locations where user data was provided by one or more users via oneor more of their computing devices, can correspond to the one or moreresults of the one or more queries. For instance, the client can displayto a user, via a display device and/or a GUI, one or more locations22210-22232 via a search region 22110 and/or via a map 22010.

In one or more embodiments, the one or more results of the query of theone or more social media data sources can be analyzed by the one or moreof API servers 2020-2024 and/or one or more of application servers2040-050 to provide analysis and/or conclusions about the results of thequery of social media data sources 1610-1640. For example, the one ormore results of the query of the one or more social media data sourcescan be filtered by one or more of API servers 2020-2024 and/or one ormore of application servers 2040-050 to provide filtered results and/oranalysis of the one or more queries of social media data sources1610-1640 that include one or more of an identified word, phrase, userprofile, portion of a user profile, regular expression, grammar, socialgroup, organization, user identification, and a location, among others.

In one or more embodiments, a search region can include a shape that isnot supported by one or more social media data sources. For example, oneor more social media data sources may support one or more shapes fordefining a search region but not other shapes. For instance, one or moresocial media data sources may support a circular search region (e.g., alocation and a radius from the location). In this instance, searchregions 4110-6110 can be supported by one or more social media datasources, while search regions 8110-8150 may not be supported. In one ormore embodiments, a query of one or more social network media datasources for a search region that is not supported by one or more socialmedia data sources can be performed. For example, one or more queriescan be generated utilizing multiple of the one or more shapes definingsearch regions that can be supported by the one or more social mediadata sources in order to generate the one or more queries of a searchregion including a shape that is not supported by one or more socialmedia data sources. For instance, multiple shapes of search regions thatcan be supported by the one or more social media data sources can beutilized to implement and/or support a search region shape that is notsupported by the one or more social media data sources.

Turning now to FIG. 9, an exemplary method of supporting a search regionshape that is not supported by one or more social media data sources isillustrated, according to one or more embodiments. At 9010, edges of acustom search region shape can be covered by shapes of search regionsthat are supported by a social media data source. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 10, search region 8140 is a custom search regionshape, and edges of search region 8140 can be covered by circular searchregions 10100-10154, which are supported search region shapes, in someexamples.

At 9020, an interior of the custom search region shape can be covered byshapes of search regions that are supported by a social media datasource. For example, search region 8140 is a custom search region shape,and an interior of search region 8140 can be covered by circular searchregions 11102-11126 that are supported search region shapes, asillustrated in FIG. 11. For instance, search region 11124 includeslocation 1225.

At 9030, one or more social network media data sources can be queried.For example, the query can include search data and a supported searchregion. For instance, the search data can include one or more of a word,a phrase, a user profile, a portion of a user profile, a social group,an organization, a user identification, a regular expression, and agrammar, among others, and the supported search region can include asearch region of search regions 10100-11126. At 9040, one or moreresults of the query, associated with and/or corresponding to thesupported search region, can be received. At 9050, the one or moreresults of the query can be stored.

At 9050, it can be determined if there is another search region shape.If there is another search region shape, the method can proceed to 9040.If there is not another search region shape, the method can proceed to9070, where one or more duplicates of the search results can beeliminated.

In one or more embodiments, two or more of the supported search regionshapes can intersect, and those intersections can yield duplicates inresults of the queries based on respective search region shapes. Forexample, search regions 10148 and 10150 intersect and can produce one ormore duplicates in search data results, since an area of an intersectionof search regions 10148 and 10150 can be searched multiple times. Forinstance, search regions 10148 and 10150 intersect and include location1230, as illustrated in FIG. 10, and one or more duplicates of thesearch data results of an intersection of search regions 10148 and 10150can be eliminated.

At 9080, one or more results that correspond to one or more locationsoutside the custom search region shape can be eliminated. For example,one or more locations that are outside one or more edges of searchregion 8140 can be eliminated. For instance, search region 10110 caninclude one or more locations outside one or more edges of search region8140, and results associated with and/or corresponding to the one ormore locations outside one or more edges of search region 8140 can beeliminated. As illustrated in FIG. 10, search region 10110 can includelocation 1220, and location 1220 is outside one or more edges of searchregion 8140. As such, one or more results associated with and/orcorresponding to location 1220 can be eliminated as falling outside theboundary of the custom search region shape. At 9090, one or more resultsbased on the search data and the custom search region shape can beprovided to the client.

Turning now to FIG. 12, a computer system is illustrated, according toone or more embodiments. As shown, a computer system 12000 can include aprocessor 12010 coupled to a memory medium 12020. In one or moreembodiments, processor 12010 can include and/or implement an instructionset architecture (ISA) that can include instructions that can be storedvia memory medium 12020 and/or can be executable by processor 12010

As illustrated, memory medium can include one or more applications(APPs) 12070-12072 and an operating system (OS) 12075. In one or moreembodiments, one or more of APPs 12070-12072 and OS 12075 can storeinstructions, executable by processor 12010, that can include one ormore software programs in accordance with one or more of methods,processes and/or flowcharts described herein.

As illustrated, computer system 12000 can include a network interface12030 coupled to processor 12010. In one example, network interface12030 can be configured to couple computer system 12000 to network 1010.In a second example, network interface 12030 can be configured to couplecomputer system 12000 to a wireless AP. In a third example, networkinterface 12030 can be configured to couple computer system 12000 to awired AP or gateway (e.g., a cable modem, a DSL modem, a router, aswitch, etc.). In another example, network interface 12030 can beconfigured to couple computer system 12000 to a wireless telephonenetwork (e.g., a cellular telephone network, a satellite telephonenetwork, etc.).

As shown, computer system 12000 can include an output interface 12040coupled to processor 12010. In one example, output interface 12040 caninclude a display that can convey graphical information to a user. Inanother example, output interface 12040 can be configured to be coupledto a display that can convey graphical information to a user. In anotherexample, output interface 12040 can include or can be configured to becoupled to an audio output device (e.g., a speaker).

As illustrated, computer system 12000 can include an input interface12050. In one example, input interface 12050 can include one or more ofa keyboard and a mouse, among others. In a second example, inputinterface 12050 can be configured to be coupled to one or more of akeyboard and a mouse, among others. In a third example, input interface12050 can include an input of a touch screen. In a fourth example, inputinterface 12050 can include or can be configured to be coupled to anaudio input device (e.g., a microphone). In another example, inputinterface 12050 can be configured to be coupled to an input of a touchscreen. In one or more embodiments, one or more of CDs 1110-1132, APIservers 2020-2024, databases 2030-2034, and application servers2040-2050 can include one or more structures and/or functionalitiesdescribed with reference to computer system 12000.

In one or more embodiments, a computer system can include a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) coupled to a memory medium, and thememory medium can store data and/or configuration information that canbe utilized by the FPGA in implementing one or more systems, methods,and/or processes described herein. For example, the configurationinformation and/or the one or more instructions can include a hardwaredescription language and/or a schematic design that can be utilized bythe FPGA to implement one or more systems, methods, and/or processesdescribed herein. In one or more embodiments, the FPGA can includemultiple programmable logic components that can be configured andcoupled to one another in implementing one or more systems, methods,and/or processes described herein.

In one or more embodiments, the FPGA can be coupled to one or more of anetwork interface, an output interface, and an input interface. In oneor more embodiments, one or more of the network interface, the outputinterface, and the input interface can provide and/or implement one ormore structures and/or functionalities as described above.

In one or more embodiments, a computer system can include an applicationspecific processor (ASIC) coupled to a memory medium. In one or moreembodiments, the memory medium can store data and/or configurationinformation that can be utilized by the ASIC in implementing one or moresystems, methods, and/or processes described herein. For example, thememory medium can store a configuration, and the configuration caninclude configuration information and/or one or more instructions thatcan be utilized by the ASIC to implement one or more systems, methods,and/or processes described herein. In one or more embodiments, thememory medium can store data and/or instructions that can be executed bythe ASIC. For instance, one or more APPs and/or an OS can includeinstructions of an ISA associated with the ASIC.

In one or more embodiments, the ASIC can be coupled to one or more of anetwork interface, an output interface, and an input interface. In oneor more embodiments, one or more of the network interface, the outputinterface, and the input interface can provide and/or implement one ormore structures and/or functionalities as described above.

In one or more embodiments, a computer system can include graphicsprocessing unit (GPU) coupled to a memory medium. For example, the GPUcan be or include a general purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU). Inone or more embodiments, the memory medium can store data and/orconfiguration information that can be utilized by the GPU inimplementing one or more systems, methods, and/or processes describedherein. For example, the memory medium can store a configuration, andthe configuration can include configuration information and/or one ormore instructions that can be utilized by the GPU to implement one ormore systems, methods, and/or processes described herein.

In one or more embodiments, the GPU can be coupled to one or more of anetwork interface, an output interface, and an input interface. In oneor more embodiments, one or more of the network interface, the outputinterface, and the input interface can provide and/or implement one ormore structures and/or functionalities as described above.

Turning now to FIG. 13, a mobile computer system is illustrated,according to one or more embodiments. As shown, a mobile computer system13000 can include a processor 13010 coupled to a memory medium 13020. Asillustrated, memory medium can include one or more APPs 13070-13072 andan OS 13075. In one or more embodiments, one or more of APPs 13070-13072and OS 13075 can store instructions, executable by processor 13010, thatcan include one or more software programs in accordance with one or moreof methods, processes and/or flowcharts described herein.

As illustrated, mobile computer system 13000 can include a networkinterface 13030 coupled to processor 12010. In one example, networkinterface 13030 can be configured to couple mobile computer system 13000to network 1010. In a second example, network interface 13030 can beconfigured to couple mobile computer system 13000 to a wireless AP. In athird example, network interface 13030 can be configured to couplemobile computer system 13000 to a wired AP or gateway (e.g., a cablemodem, a DSL modem, a router, a switch, etc.). In another example,network interface 13030 can be configured to couple computer system13000 to a wireless telephone network (e.g., a cellular telephonenetwork, a satellite telephone network, etc.).

As shown, mobile computer system 13000 can include an output interface13040 coupled to processor 13010. In one example, output interface 12040can include a display that can convey graphical information to a user.In another example, output interface 13040 can be configured to becoupled to a display that can convey graphical information to a user. Inanother example, output interface 13040 can include or can be configuredto be coupled to an audio output device (e.g., a speaker).

As illustrated, mobile computer system 13000 can include an inputinterface 13050. In one example, input interface 13050 can include oneor more of a keyboard and a mouse, among others. In a second example,input interface 13050 can be configured to be coupled to one or more ofa keyboard and a mouse, among others. In a third example, inputinterface 13050 can include an input of a touch screen. In a fourthexample, input interface 13050 can include or can be configured to becoupled to an audio input device (e.g., a microphone). In anotherexample, input interface 13050 can be configured to be coupled to aninput of a touch screen.

As shown, mobile computer system 13000 can include a position device13060 coupled to processor 13010. For example, position device 13060 candetermine location information and/or provide the location informationto processor 13010. For instance, position device 13060 can determinelocation information based on one or more of multilateration,trilateration, triangulation, and multiangulation, among others. In oneor more embodiments, position device 13060 can include a GPS deviceand/or mechanism. For example, a GPS device and/or mechanism candetermine location information and provide the determined locationinformation to processor 13010. In one or more embodiments, one or moreof CDs 1110-1132 can include one or more structures and/orfunctionalities described with reference to mobile computer system13000.

In one or more embodiments, mobile computer system 13000 may not includeposition device 13060. For example, position device 13060 can beeliminated from a design and/or implementation of mobile computer system13000 to conserve utilization of a power source of mobile computersystem 13000.

Turning now to FIG. 14, a method of providing location-based informationto a computing device is illustrated, according to one or moreembodiments. At 14010, one or more results of one or more queries can beprovided to a client (e.g., one of CDs 1130-1132). For example, one ormore of API servers 2020-2024 and application servers 2040-2050 canprovide the one or more results of one or more queries to CD 1130.

In one or more embodiments, a client (e.g., a retail entity, anadvertising agency, a marketing agency, a promotion agency, etc.) canprovide information indicating a search region and data of a search toone or more computing devices that perform the method illustrated inFIG. 3, and the client can receive one or more results of one or morequeries. For example, the client can provide information indicating aregion 15510, as illustrated in FIG. 15, and one or more search words ora search string to one or more of API servers 2020-2024 and applicationservers 2040-2050. In one instance, the string can include a word suchas “shoes”, and one or more results of one or more queries associatedwith region 15510 and “shoes” can be provided to the client. In a secondinstance, the string can include a word such as “hungry”, and one ormore results of one or more queries associated with region 15510 and“hungry” (or variation such as “hunger”, etc.) can be provided to theclient. In another instance, the string can include a word such as“clothes”, and one or more results of one or more queries associatedwith region 15510 and “clothes” (or variation such as “clothing”, etc.or similarities such as “shirt”, “dress”, “pants”, “slacks”, “skirt”,“blouse”, etc.) can be provided to the client.

At 14020, location-based information (e.g., an advertisement, apromotion, marketing information, a coupon, directions to a store, etc.)can be provided to corresponding computing devices that correspond toone or more results of one or more queries of social network media datasources associated with a region. In one example, CD 1130 can providelocation-based information to CD 1124, which corresponds with the one ormore results of one or more queries of social network media data sources1610-1640 associated with region 15510. For instance, CD 1124 canprovide a search string that includes the word “clothing”, and CD 1130can provide one or more of an advertisement associated with retailentity location (REL) 15040 (e.g., a clothing retailer location, adepartment store, etc.), a promotion associated REL 15040, a couponassociated REL 15040, and one or more directions (e.g., turn-by-turndirections) to REL 15040, among others. In one or more embodiments,location-based information can be provided to a computing device via oneor more of a banner advertisement, a text message, a SMS (short messageservice) message, an email message, a video, and an in-applicationmessage, among others. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the location basedinformation can be associated with a specific one of retail entitylocations 15010-15150. In this way, for example, a social media networkuser may include the word “clothes,” for example, in a social mediaupdate such as a “Tweet,” for example, to a social media website such asTwitter, for example, and the social media network user can be presentedwith one or more location-based information associated with the locationfrom which the social media network user provided the social mediaupdate.

In a second example, application server 2040 can provide location-basedinformation to CD 1120, which corresponds with the one or more resultsof one or more queries of social network media data sources 1610-1640associated with region 15510. For instance, CD 1120 can provide a stringthat includes the word “hungry”, and application server 2040 can provideone or more of an advertisement associated with REL 15110 (e.g., a foodpurveyor location), a promotion associated REL 15110, a couponassociated REL 15110, and one or more directions to REL 15110, amongothers. In third example, API server 2020 can provide location basedinformation to CD 1125, which corresponds with the one or more resultsof one or more queries associated with region 15510. For instance, CD1125 can provide a string that includes the word “shoes”, and API server2020 can provide one or more of an advertisement associated with REL15060 (e.g. a shoe store, a department store, etc.), a promotionassociated REL 15060, a coupon associated REL 15060, and directions toREL 15060, among others.

In another example, social media data source 1610 can providelocation-based information to CD 1111, which corresponds with one ormore results of one or more queries associated with region 15520. Forinstance, CD 1111 can provide a string that includes the word“sunglasses”, and social media data source 1610 can provide one or moreof an advertisement associated with REL 15030 (e.g., a glasses retailerlocation, a department store, etc.), a promotion associated REL 15030, acoupon associated REL 15030, and directions to REL 15030, among others.In one or more embodiments, social media data source 1610 can support anAPI that permits CD 1130 to provide location-based information to CD1111. For example, CD 1130 can provide the location-based information toCD 1111 via social media data source 1610.

Turning now to FIG. 16, a method of providing location-based informationto a computing device is illustrated, according to one or moreembodiments. At 16010, a client (e.g., a computer system of a retailentity, a computer system of an advertising agency, a computer system ofa marketing agency, a computer system of a promotion agency, a computingdevice of CDs 1130-1132, etc.) can provide at least one search region toa social media query system, via a network (e.g., network 1010). Forexample, the social media query system can include one or morestructures and/or functionalities as those described with reference tothe social media query system illustrated in FIG. 2.

At 16020, the client can provide search data to the social media querysystem, via the network. For example, the search data can include one ormore of a word, words, a phrase, a user profile, a portion of a userprofile, a regular expression, a natural language filter, a grammar, asocial group, an organization, and a user identification, among others.At 16030, the client can receive multiple results from the social mediaquery system, via the network. For example, the multiple results can bebased on the search data and the at least one search region, and themultiple results can correspond to multiple computing devices (e.g.,multiple of CDs 1110-1126). For instance, each of the multiple resultscan correspond to each of the multiple computing devices.

At 16040, the client can provide, via the network, each of the multiplecomputing devices location based information that is based on acorresponding one of the multiple results from the social media querysystem. For example, the client can provide location based one or moredirections to REL 15050, illustrated in FIG. 15, a location basedcoupon, a location based promotion, location based marketinginformation, and a location based advertisement to each of multiplecomputing devices based on a corresponding one of the multiple resultsfrom the social media query system. In one instance, the client canprovide CD 1125 one or more directions to REL 15050 based on a firstresult of the multiple results from the social media query system. In asecond instance, the client can provide a coupon to CD 1124 based on asecond result of the multiple results from the social media querysystem. In a third instance, the client can provide a promotion to CD1110 based on a third result of the multiple results from the socialmedia query system. In a fourth instance, the client can providemarketing information to CD 1122 based on a fourth result of themultiple results from the social media query system. In anotherinstance, the client can provide an advertisement to CD 1120 based on afifth result of the multiple results from the social media query system.

Turning now to FIG. 17, a method of changing a position of a searchregion, according to one or more embodiments. At 17010, input selectinga search region, at a first position, can be received. In one example, afirst computing device can receive input from a second computing devicewhich selects a search region. In another example, a computing devicecan receive user input that selects a search region. For instance, asearch region of search regions 4110, 5110, and 8130, as shown in FIG.19, can be selected. In one or more embodiments, one or more of map 4010and search regions 4110, 5110, and 8130 can be displayed to a user viaone or more of a screen, a projector, a GUI, and a display, amongothers, and the user input that selects a search region can be receivedvia a keyboard and/or a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, a trackpad, atrackball, a touch screen that can determine contact from a stylusand/or a finger).

At 17020, input indicating a change of position of the search regionfrom the first position to a second position. In one example, a firstcomputing device can receive input from a second computing device whichprovides data to the first computing device that indicates the change ofposition of the search region from the first position to the secondposition. In another example, a computing device can receive user inputthat indicates a change of a position search region, at a firstposition, to a second position. For instance, a search region of searchregions 4110, 5110, and 8130, as shown in FIG. 19, can be changed from afirst position to a second position as shown in FIG. 20.

In one or more embodiments, one or more of map 4010 and search regions4110, 5110, and 8130 can be displayed to a user via one or more of ascreen, a projector, a GUI, and a display, among others, and the userinput that indicates a change of a position search region, at a firstposition, to a second position can be received via a keyboard and/or apointing device (e.g., a mouse, a trackpad, a trackball, a touch screenthat can determine contact from a stylus and/or a finger). In oneexample, a user can provide numeric or alphanumeric input that indicatesthe second position of the search region. In another example, the usercan utilize a pointing device to “drag” the search region to the secondposition.

At 17030, a position of the search region can be changed to the secondposition. In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, methods,and/or processes described herein can utilize the second position of thesearch region. In one example, search region 4110 may no longer beassociated with a location, as illustrated in FIG. 20. In a secondexample, search region 5110 can be associated with locations 1235 and1240, as illustrated in FIG. 20. In another example, search region 8110can be associated with location 1220, as shown in FIG. 20. In one ormore embodiments, one or more queries can be generated that utilize asecond position of a search region.

Turning now to FIG. 18, a method of changing a size of a search regionis illustrated, according to one or more embodiments. At 18010, inputselecting a search region, of a first size, can be received. In oneexample, a first computing device can receive input from a secondcomputing device which selects a search region. In another example, acomputing device can receive user input that selects a search region.For instance, a search region of search regions 4110, 5110, and 8130, asshown in FIG. 19, can be selected. In one or more embodiments, one ormore of map 4010 and search regions 4110, 5110, and 8130 can bedisplayed to a user via one or more of a screen, a projector, a GUI, anda display, among others, and the user input that selects a search regioncan be received via a keyboard and/or a pointing device (e.g., a mouse,a trackpad, a trackball, a touch screen that can determine contact froma stylus and/or a finger).

At 18020, input indicating a change of size of the search region fromthe first size to a second size. In one example, a first computingdevice can receive input from a second computing device which providesdata to the first computing device that indicates the change of size ofthe search region from the first size to the second size. In anotherexample, a computing device can receive user input that indicates achange of the size search region, of the first size, to a second size.For instance, a search region of search regions 4110, 5110, and 8130, asshown in FIG. 19, can be changed from a size position to a second sizeas shown in FIG. 21.

In one or more embodiments, one or more of map 4010 and search regions4110, 5110, and 8130 can be displayed to a user via one or more of ascreen, a projector, a GUI, and a display, among others, and the userinput that indicates a change of a size search region, of a first size,to a second size can be received via a keyboard and/or a pointing device(e.g., a mouse, a trackpad, a trackball, a touch screen that candetermine contact from a stylus and/or a finger). In one example, a usercan provide numeric or alphanumeric input that indicates the second sizeof the search region. In another example, the user can utilize apointing device to “drag” an edge of a search region to change the sizeof the search region.

At 18030, a size of the search region can be changed to the second size.In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, methods, and/orprocesses described herein can utilize the second size of the searchregion. In one example, search region 4110 can be associated withlocations 1210 and 1250, as illustrated in FIG. 21. In a second example,search region 5110 may no longer be associated with a location, asillustrated in FIG. 21. In another example, search region 8110 may notbe associated with a location, as illustrated in FIG. 21. In one or moreembodiments, one or more queries can be generated that utilize a secondsize of a search region.

Turning now to FIG. 22, exemplary search results are illustrated,according to one or more embodiments. As illustrated, one or more searchresults 22210-22232 can be provided via a map 22010. For example, theone or more search results 22210-22232 and/or map 22010 can be providedto a user via a display and/or a GUI.

As shown, a search region 22110 can be provided via map 22010. Asillustrated, icons can indicate one or more locations of respective oneor more search results 22210-22232. In one or more embodiments, a numberof computing devices and/or user accounts corresponding to the one ormore search results 22210-22232 can be indicated. For example, a numberwithin a characters “I” can indicate an amount (e.g., an integralnumber) of computing devices and/or user accounts corresponding to theone or more search results 22210-22232.

In one or more embodiments, one or more icons corresponding to the oneor more search results 22210-22232 can be customized. In one example, auser can select the one or more icons. In a second example, an icon canbe sized in an accordance with an amount (e.g., an integral number) ofcomputing devices and/or user accounts corresponding to the searchresult. In another example, an icon can be sized in an accordance with aradius of uncertainty of a location corresponding to the search result.For instance, each of one or more locations provided via one or more ofa GPS device, an access point, a WTNN, multilateration, trilateration,and triangulation, among others, can be associated with a radius ofuncertainty.

In one or more embodiments, a computer system, a computing device,and/or a computer can be broadly characterized to include any devicethat includes a processor that executes instructions from a memorymedium. For example, the term “memory medium” can mean a “memory”, a“memory device”, “storage device”, and/or “tangible computer readablestorage medium”. In one instance, one or more of a “memory”, a “memorydevice”, “storage device” and “tangible computer readable storagemedium” can include volatile storage such as random access memory (RAM),SRAM (static RAM), DRAM (dynamic RAM), EDO RAM (extended data out RAM),Rambus RAM, etc. In another instance, one or more of a “memory”, a“memory device”, and “tangible computer readable storage medium” caninclude nonvolatile storage such as a ROM (read only memory), a PROM(programmable ROM), an EPROM (erasable PROM), an EEPROM (electricallyerasable PROM), flash memory, NVRAM (non-volatile RAM), FRAM(ferroelectric RAM), a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a floppy disk, a magnetictape, a magnetic media (e.g., a hard drive), optical storage, etc. Inone or more embodiments, a memory medium can include one or morevolatile storages and/or one or more nonvolatile storages.

In one or more embodiments, a processor (e.g., a central processing unitor CPU) can execute instructions from a memory medium that stores theinstructions that can include one or more software programs inaccordance with one or more of methods, processes and/or flowchartsdescribed herein. In one example, the processor and the memory medium,that stores the instructions which can include one or more softwareprograms in accordance with one or more of methods, processes and/orflowcharts described herein, can form one or more means for one or morefunctionalities described with references to methods, processes and/orflowcharts herein. In a second example, a GPU and the memory medium,that stores the instructions which can include one or more softwareprograms in accordance with one or more of methods, processes and/orflowcharts described herein, can form one or more means for one or morefunctionalities described with references to methods, processes and/orflowcharts herein.

In a third example, a FPGA can be configured with one or moreconfigurations in accordance with one or more of methods, processesand/or flowcharts described herein, that can form one or more means forone or more functionalities described with references to methods,processes and/or flowcharts herein. In a fourth example, an ASIC and thememory medium, that stores the instructions which can include one ormore software programs in accordance with one or more of methods,processes and/or flowcharts described herein, can form one or more meansfor one or more functionalities described with references to methods,processes and/or flowcharts herein. In a fifth example, an ASIC can beconfigured with one or more configurations in accordance with one ormore of methods, processes and/or flowcharts described herein, that canform one or more means for one or more functionalities described withreferences to methods, processes and/or flowcharts herein.

In a sixth example, an ASIC and the memory medium, that stores theinstructions which can include one or more software programs inaccordance with one or more of methods, processes and/or flowchartsdescribed herein, can form one or more means for one or morefunctionalities described with references to methods, processes and/orflowcharts herein. In another example, the memory medium, that storesthe instructions which can include one or more software programs inaccordance with one or more of methods, processes and/or flowchartsdescribed herein, can include, implement, and/or form an article ofmanufacture. When terms are used in this disclosure in the singular theyshall be deemed to include the plural when applicable, and when usedherein in the plural to include the singular when applicable.

One or more of the method elements described herein and/or one or moreportions of an implementation of a method element can be repeated, canbe performed in varying orders, can be performed concurrently with oneor more of the other method elements and/or one or more portions of animplementation of a method element, or can be omitted, according to oneor more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, concurrently can meansimultaneously. In one or more embodiments, concurrently can meanapparently simultaneously according to some metric. For example, twotasks can be context switched such that such that they appear to besimultaneous to a human. In one instance, a first task of the two taskscan include a first method element and/or a first portion of a firstmethod element. In a second instance, a second task of the two tasks caninclude a second method element and/or a first portion of a secondmethod element. In another instance, a second task of the two tasks caninclude the first method element and/or a second portion of the firstmethod element. Further, one or more of the system elements describedherein can be omitted and additional system elements can be added asdesired, according to one or more embodiments. Moreover, supplementary,additional, and/or duplicated method elements can be instantiated and/orperformed as desired, according to one or more embodiments.

One or more modifications and/or alternatives of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be apparent to those skilled in the art in view ofthis description. Hence, descriptions of the embodiments, describedherein, are to be taken and/or construed as illustrative and/orexemplary only and are for the purpose of teaching those skilled in theart the general manner of carrying out methods, processes, and/orsystems described herein. In one or more embodiments, one or morematerials and/or elements can be swapped or substituted for thoseillustrated and described herein. In one or more embodiments, one ormore parts and/or processes can be reversed, and/or certain one or morefeatures of the described one or more embodiments can be utilizedindependently, as would be apparent to one skilled in the art afterhaving the benefit of this description.

1. A system, comprising: a processor; a network interface, coupled tothe processor and coupled to a network; and a memory device coupled tothe processor, wherein the memory device stores instructions that areexecuted by the processor, wherein the system: generates a first queryof at least one social network media data source comprising a firstinput indicating a first location, a second input indicating a firstgeographical search region associated with the first location, and athird input indicating search data, wherein the first geographicalsearch region is an unsupported geographical search region shape that isnot a supported geographical search region shape for one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source suchthat the first query is not supported as a query of the at least onesocial network media data source, wherein the at least one socialnetwork media data source stores user-provided data from a plurality ofusers provided to one or more social networks of the at least one socialnetwork media data source via a plurality of computing devices at aplurality of locations; determines a pattern of a plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes, wherein the pattern of the pluralityof supported geographical search region shapes is determined to cover atleast the unsupported geographical search region such that the patternof the plurality of supported geographical search region shapes isinclusive of the first unsupported geographical search region shape, andfurther wherein the pattern of the plurality of supported geographicalsearch region shapes is determined to include at least a first supportedgeographical search region shape of the plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes supported by the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source and asecond supported geographical search region shape of the plurality ofsupported geographical search region shapes supported by the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source, whereinat least a portion of the second supported geographical search regionshape is determined to comprise an interior of the first unsupportedgeographical search region shape, and further determines the pattern ofthe plurality of supported geographical search region shapes such thatthe first supported geographical search region shape does not includethe second supported geographical search region shape of the pluralityof supported geographical search region shapes; generates at least onequery translating the first query in accordance with the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source suchthat the at least one query is supported as a query of the at least onesocial network media data source, and the at least one query specifies,in accordance with the one or more interfaces of the at least one socialnetwork media data source, the pattern of the plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes supported by the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source;provides, via the network interface and the network, the at least onequery, comprising the pattern of the plurality of supported geographicalsearch region shapes supported by the one or more interfaces of the atleast one social network media data source, to the at least one socialnetwork media data source; and receives, from the at least one socialnetwork media data source via the network interface and the network, atleast one result based on the at least one query, including based on atleast the pattern of the plurality of supported geographical searchregion shapes.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one queryhas at least one of a word, a plurality of words, a phrase, a userprofile, a portion of a user profile, a regular expression, a naturallanguage filter, a grammar, a social group, an organization, and a useridentification; wherein at least a portion of the user-provided datafrom the plurality of users corresponds to the at least one result andat least one of the word, the plurality of words, the phrase, the userprofile, the portion of the user profile, the regular expression, thenatural language filter, the grammar, the social group, theorganization, and the user identification; and wherein the at least oneresult is based on the at least the portion of the user-provided datafrom the plurality of users that corresponds to the at least one resultand the at least one of the word, the plurality of words, the phrase,the user profile, the portion of the user profile, the regularexpression, the natural language filter, the grammar, the social group,the organization, and the user identification.
 3. The system of claim 2,wherein the user-provided data includes at least one post to at leastone social network service.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein thegrammar includes at least one of a set of formation rules for strings ina language, a context-free grammar, a regular grammar, a tree-adjoininggrammar, an affix grammar, an attribute grammar, an adaptive grammar, anambiguous grammar, and a categorical grammar.
 5. The system of claim 2,wherein the user profile includes at least one of a user name, the useridentification, a mobile telephone number, an email address, a physicaladdress, an occupation, a gender, a marital status, a past purchase, aninterest, a past transaction, a shoe size, an age, a clothing size, apolitical affiliation, a monthly income, a yearly income, an employmentstatus, a credit history, a credit rating, an eye color, a hair color, amusic genre, and a membership.
 6. The system of claim 2, wherein theuser-provided data from the plurality of users includes social networkuser-provided content.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein when the systemreceives, from the at least one social network media data source via thenetwork interface and the network, the at least one result based on thesearch data that is based on the at least one query, the system receivesa plurality of results that are based on the at least one query and thepattern of the plurality of supported geographical search region shapesthat include the first unsupported geographical search region shape,wherein the plurality of results include the at least one result.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7, wherein a first result of the plurality of results isassociated with a location of the plurality of locations that is locatedoutside the first geographical search region and within at least one ofthe pattern of the plurality of supported geographical search regions;and wherein the system further eliminates the first result of theplurality of results that is associated with the location of theplurality of locations that is located outside the first geographicalsearch region and within the at least one of the pattern of theplurality of supported geographical search regions.
 9. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the system further provides a map to a user and theuser indicates the first geographical search region on the map.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the at least one result includes at least onelocation of the plurality of locations; and wherein the system furtherprovides the at least one location of the plurality of locations to auser via the map.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein when the systemreceives, from the at least one social network media data source via thenetwork, the at least one result based on the at least one query andbased on user-provided data stored via the at least one social networkmedia data source, the system receives, from the at least one socialnetwork media data source via the network, a first plurality of resultsbased on the at least one query and based on the user-provided datastored via the at least one social network media data source thatincludes the at least one result based on the at least one query andbased on the user-provided data stored via the at least one socialnetwork media data source, wherein the first plurality of resultsinclude at least two locations of the plurality of locations and whereineach of the first plurality of results corresponds to at least one ofthe two locations of the plurality of locations; wherein the systemfurther provides the at least one of the two locations of the pluralityof locations to a user via the map.
 12. The system of claim 1, whereinthe system further: receives first input indicating the first locationfrom a computing device; receives second input indicating the firstgeographical search region associated with the first location from thecomputing device; receives the third input indicating the search datafrom the computing device; and provides the at least the first result tothe computing device.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the systemfurther provides a map to a user wherein the map indicates at least onelocation of the plurality of locations that corresponds to the at leastone result based on the at least one query and based on location-baseddata stored via the at least one social network media data source. 14.The system of claim 1, wherein the user-provided data stored via the atleast one social network media data source includes user-provided datastored via at least one of FACEBOOK social network media data source,TWITTER social network media data source, YOUTUBE social network mediadata source, WEIBO social network media data source, a blog, a wiki,FOURSQUARE social network media data source, INSTAGRAM social networkmedia data source, FLICKR social network media data source, VIMEO socialnetwork media data source, and YELP social network media data source.15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality oflocations is determined via a position device of at least one of theplurality of computing devices; and wherein the user-provided data fromthe plurality of users provided via the plurality of computing devicesincludes the at least one of the plurality of locations determined viathe position device of the at least one of the plurality of computingdevices.
 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the system receives thefirst input indicating the first location, and the system receives thefirst input indicating the first location from a computing device viathe network interface and the network; wherein the system receives thesecond input indicating the first geographical search region associatedwith the first location from the computing device, and the systemreceives the second input indicating the first geographical searchregion associated with the first location from the computing device viathe network interface and the network; wherein the system receives thesearch data from the computing device, and the system receives thesearch data from the computing device via the network interface and thenetwork; and wherein the system provides the at least one result to thecomputing device, and the system provides the at least one result to thecomputing device via the network interface and the network.
 17. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the system is coupled to a storage; andwherein when the instructions are executed by the processor, the systemfurther stores the at least one query in the storage; after an amount oftime transpiring, retrieves the at least one query from the storage;provides, via the network, the at least one query from the storage tothe at least one social network media data source; receives, from the atleast one social network media data source via the network, at least asecond result based on the at least one query from storage and based onthe user-provided data stored via the at least one social network mediadata source; and provides the at least the second result to thecomputing device.
 18. A non-transitory computer readable memory devicethat stores instructions, which when executed by a processor, theprocessor: generates a first query of at least one social network mediadata source comprising a first input indicating a first location, asecond input indicating a first geographical search region associatedwith the first location, and a third input indicating search data,wherein the first geographical search region is an unsupportedgeographical search region shape that is not a supported geographicalsearch region shape for one or more interfaces of the at least onesocial network media data source such that the first query is notsupported as a query of the at least one social network media datasource, wherein the at least one social network media data source storesuser-provided data from a plurality of users provided to one or moresocial networks of the at least one social network media data source viaa plurality of computing devices at a plurality of locations; determinesa pattern of a plurality of supported geographical search region shapes,wherein the pattern of the plurality of supported geographical searchregion shapes is determined to cover at least the unsupportedgeographical search region such that the pattern of the plurality ofsupported geographical search region shapes is inclusive of the firstunsupported geographical search region shape, and further wherein thepattern of the plurality of supported geographical search region shapesis determined to include at least a first supported geographical searchregion shape of the plurality of supported geographical search regionshapes supported by the one or more interfaces of the at least onesocial network media data source and a second supported geographicalsearch region shape of the plurality of supported geographical searchregion shapes supported by the one or more interfaces of the at leastone social network media data source, wherein at least a portion of thesecond supported geographical search region shape is determined tocomprise an interior of the first unsupported geographical search regionshape, and further determines the pattern of the plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes such that the first supportedgeographical search region shape does not include the second supportedgeographical search region shape of the plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes; generates at least one querytranslating the first query in accordance with the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source suchthat the at least one query is supported as a query of the at least onesocial network media data source, and the at least one query specifies,in accordance with the one or more interfaces of the at least one socialnetwork media data source, the pattern of the plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes supported by the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source;provides, via the network interface and the network, the at least onequery, comprising the pattern of the plurality of supported geographicalsearch region shapes supported by the one or more interfaces of the atleast one social network media data source, to the at least one socialnetwork media data source; and receives, from the at least one socialnetwork media data source via the network interface and the network, atleast one result based on the at least one query, including based on atleast the pattern of the plurality of supported geographical searchregion shapes.
 19. A method, comprising: generating a first query of atleast one social network media data source comprising a first inputindicating a first location, a second input indicating a firstgeographical search region associated with the first location, and athird input indicating search data, wherein the first geographicalsearch region is an unsupported geographical search region shape that isnot a supported geographical search region shape for one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source suchthat the first query is not supported as a query of the at least onesocial network media data source, wherein the at least one socialnetwork media data source stores user-provided data from a plurality ofusers provided to one or more social networks of the at least one socialnetwork media data source via a plurality of computing devices at aplurality of locations; determining a pattern of a plurality ofsupported geographical search region shapes, wherein the pattern of theplurality of supported geographical search region shapes is determinedto cover at least the unsupported geographical search region such thatthe pattern of the plurality of supported geographical search regionshapes is inclusive of the first unsupported geographical search regionshape, and further wherein the pattern of the plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes is determined to include at least afirst supported geographical search region shape of the plurality ofsupported geographical search region shapes supported by the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source and asecond supported geographical search region shape of the plurality ofsupported geographical search region shapes supported by the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source, whereinat least a portion of the second supported geographical search regionshape is determined to comprise an interior of the first unsupportedgeographical search region shape, and further determines the pattern ofthe plurality of supported geographical search region shapes such thatthe first supported geographical search region shape does not includethe second supported geographical search region shape of the pluralityof supported geographical search region shapes; generating at least onequery translating the first query in accordance with the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source suchthat the at least one query is supported as a query of the at least onesocial network media data source, and the at least one query specifies,in accordance with the one or more interfaces of the at least one socialnetwork media data source, the pattern of the plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes supported by the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source;providing, via the network interface and the network, the at least onequery, comprising the pattern of the plurality of supported geographicalsearch region shapes supported by the one or more interfaces of the atleast one social network media data source, to the at least one socialnetwork media data source; and receiving, from the at least one socialnetwork media data source via the network interface and the network, atleast one result based on the at least one query, including based on atleast the pattern of the plurality of supported geographical searchregion shapes.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least onequery has at least one of a word, a plurality of words, a phrase, a userprofile, a portion of a user profile, a regular expression, a naturallanguage filter, a grammar, a social group, an organization, and a useridentification; wherein at least a portion of the user-provided datafrom the plurality of users corresponds to the at least one result andat least one of the word, the plurality of words, the phrase, the userprofile, the portion of the user profile, the regular expression, thenatural language filter, the grammar, the social group, theorganization, and the user identification; and wherein the at least oneresult is based on the at least the portion of the user-provided datafrom the plurality of users that corresponds to the at least one resultand the at least one of the word, the plurality of words, the phrase,the user profile, the portion of the user profile, the regularexpression, the natural language filter, the grammar, the social group,the organization, and the user identification.
 21. The method of claim19, wherein said receiving, from the at least one social network mediadata source via the network, the at least one result based on the atleast one query includes receiving a plurality of results that are basedon the at least one query and the plurality of supported geographicalsearch region shapes that include the first unsupported geographicalsearch region shape, wherein the plurality of results include the atleast one result.
 22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:providing a map to a user, wherein the map indicates at least onelocation of the plurality of locations that corresponds to the at leastone result based on the at least one query and based on location-baseddata stored via the at least one social network media data source.
 23. Asystem, comprising: a network interface for coupling to a network; ameans for generating a first query of at least one social network mediadata source comprising a first input indicating a first location, asecond input indicating a first geographical search region associatedwith the first location, and a third input indicating search data,wherein the first geographical search region is an unsupportedgeographical search region shape that is not a supported geographicalsearch region shape for one or more interfaces of the at least onesocial network media data source such that the first query is notsupported as a query of the at least one social network media datasource, wherein the at least one social network media data source storesuser-provided data from a plurality of users provided to one or moresocial networks of the at least one social network media data source viaa plurality of computing devices at a plurality of locations; a meansfor determining a pattern of a plurality of supported geographicalsearch region shapes, wherein the pattern of the plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes is determined to cover at least theunsupported geographical search region such that the pattern of theplurality of supported geographical search region shapes is inclusive ofthe first unsupported geographical search region shape, and furtherwherein the pattern of the plurality of supported geographical searchregion shapes is determined to include at least a first supportedgeographical search region shape of the plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes supported by the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source and asecond supported geographical search region shape of the plurality ofsupported geographical search region shapes supported by the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source, whereinat least a portion of the second supported geographical search regionshape is determined to comprise an interior of the first unsupportedgeographical search region shape, and further determines the pattern ofthe plurality of supported geographical search region shapes such thatthe first supported geographical search region shape does not includethe second supported geographical search region shape of the pluralityof supported geographical search region shapes; a means for generatingat least one query translating the first query in accordance with theone or more interfaces of the at least one social network media datasource such that the at least one query is supported as a query of theat least one social network media data source, and the at least onequery specifies, in accordance with the one or more interfaces of the atleast one social network media data source, the pattern of the pluralityof supported geographical search region shapes supported by the one ormore interfaces of the at least one social network media data source; ameans for providing, via the network interface and the network, the atleast one query, comprising the pattern of the plurality of supportedgeographical search region shapes supported by the one or moreinterfaces of the at least one social network media data source, to theat least one social network media data source; and a means forreceiving, from the at least one social network media data source viathe network interface and the network, at least one result based on theat least one query, including based on at least the pattern of theplurality of supported geographical search region shapes.